Painesville accepting applications for Charter Review Committee
Jan. 19—Eligible Painesville residents have until Jan. 23 to apply for the city's Charter Review Committee, a body that meets every 10 years to propose amendments to the city charter.
Applicants must live in Painesville City and be registered to vote in Lake County, as noted in a city news release. The amendments that are submitted by the committee will be placed on the November ballot.
People who want to apply have until Jan. 23 to submit a letter of interest, the release stated. Letters can be sent to Clerk of Council Samantha Danielson at sdanielson@painesville.com or 7 Richmond St., P.O. Box 601, Painesville, Ohio 44077.
"If you've ever complained about government, now might be the time that you have an opportunity to put your two cents in."
— Painesville Councilman Jim Fodor
According to the city charter, committee members are not paid. The committee will serve until the November election, and council will cover its "reasonable expenses."
City Manager Doug Lewis noted that the committee will set its meeting dates, while Law Director Jim Lyons added that the committee will hold open meetings.
The last Charter Review Committee met in 2013 and held one meeting a month, stated a memo from Assistant City Manager Anthony Zampedro. Meetings were scheduled from February until June, with a tentative meeting if needed scheduled for July.
"They took a bite at a time, they solicited input from the public, from the administration, from council themselves by setting a two-week proposal or amendment deadline before each meeting," he said at the Jan. 17 council meeting.
Lyons said that the committee will submit its proposals to council, which will send them to the Lake County Board of Elections to appear on the ballot. Council cannot modify the proposals.
Council President Christine Shoop noted that council will need to vote to submit the proposals at a meeting prior to the Aug. 9 filing deadline.
"If you've ever complained about government, now might be the time that you have an opportunity to put your two cents in," said Councilman Jim Fodor.
"A City Charter is a municipality's most important document that defines local ordinances, powers, functions and essential procedures," explained the city news release.
People can review Painesville's charter online by going to codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/painesville/overview. The charter will be available under the "Codified Ordinances of the City of Painesville, Ohio" heading.
Zampedro noted that council should select committee members by Jan. 30.
